Hicks pleads not guilty to US charges

Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks has been charged with war crimes by a United States military tribunal and will stand trial on January 10 next year.

Hicks's first words to the court were "yes sir", when he was asked if he wanted to retain his appointed legal team. He then pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.

The charges have not been brought by the United Nations war crimes tribunal.

Hicks wore a grey suit for the hearing, which followed his first meeting with his father in five years.

The 29-year-old former ranch hand and kangaroo hunter made his first public appearance since he was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001.

He was charged with conspiracy to attack civilians and civilian targets, attempted murder and aiding the enemy by fighting alongside the Taliban regime in Afghanistan that was deposed in 2001.

His Australian lawyer, Stephen Kenny, says that a new attempt to launch civil action in US courts was being prepared.

Before the hearing, Hicks was allowed to be alone with his father Terry and stepmother, Bev, for 15 minutes.

"At the request of the Australian Government, arrangements were made for David Hicks's family to meet with him for 15 minutes before this morning's proceedings began, in a secure room in the commission building," a military spokesman said.

"There were no guards in the room," he added.

"At the conclusion of proceedings, they will have another meeting for approximately 30 minutes."

The meeting took place just after Hicks was taken in a convoy of vans from Camp Delta, where the remaining 585 war on terror detainees have been held in isolation for more than two-and-a-half years, to the commission building.

Hicks' father, Terry, later spoke to reporters.

"From what he was saying to us...he has the same feelings as myself, that it's not, it's not a very fair way to set things up."

Terry Hicks said he had been looking forward to giving his son a hug.

"We have got five years of catching up, so we will probably have a good session," he told reporters while adding that he did not believe the US military commissions are "a full and fair system".

Terry Hicks said he believed his son should be tried in a civil court in Australia.

He also condemned the Australian Government, which he said "demonised" his son from the start of his detention in Afghanistan in late 2001.

David Hicks is said to have gone to Pakistan after converting to Islam in 2000.

Before that, he had fought with an Islamic-led militia in Kosovo during the Balkans war in 1999.

"David has been an adventurer all his life. He has always wanted to see what was over the next fence, and as he got older, the fence got taller," Terry Hicks said.

The Australian Government has faced criticism for supporting the military commission process started by the US authorities.

But Prime Minister John Howard said the Government would seek Hicks's immediate release if he is acquitted.

Mr Howard, one of the Washington's closest foreign allies, said in a radio interview: "I can tell you, if he is found innocent, he will be let go."